Insurance Woes for 20-unit Coop

Saunders wrote: If you have the right combination of righteous indignation, reasonableness, and clarity, you should expect the insurance co to reach an accommodation with you. Here's why: When they extend insurance, or a bank extends a new mortgage, they send an independent examiner out to look things over and make recommendations. Sometimes these guys are idiots. They make blind recommendations and even silly ones because they have to prove to their client that they are "protecting" the client's interests.

Talk to a decision maker at the insurance co. (the underwriter or a relevant vice-president) Be prepared to explain WHY a proposed change is not a good idea, politely ask and figure out what the core insurance co concern is, and propose an idea that the insurance co agrees is an acceptable alternative to accomplish thier core concern. You do not have to know the alternative idea when you first speak. In fact, they may respect the fact that you want to consider their concern thoughtfully and call back in a few days. You might suggest sending them clear documentation/pictures to make your points. DON'T try to get away on the cheap or be dismissive of their core concern. Remember that you have a quality of life/architecture concern first, and they have some kind of safety/legal concern that must be satisfied.

This appeoach worked for me in my cafe. In fact, the insurance co. compromised on the most important aesthetic point for me in front where the customers are, and I compromised by agreeing to their more stringent and costly point elsewhere, in the back. Because I was trying to compromise, subject to a clearly stated requirement, they helped me think through my point of compromise so I had a better understnding of the ways I could implement it.

Good luck!